Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Government has to deal with rent. It can be done, so do not tell me it cannot. I did it. Rent freezes can be introduced. The Government also has to deal with VAT. The Taoiseach keeps repeating that the Government cannot apply for a derogation but it can apply for a one-off derogation. Of course it can.

The Taoiseach spoke about inflation. Workers have every right to look for pay increases to deal with inflation because the Government will not deal with it. He cannot sit there and say that they should not. They will, they can and they must because the Government will not deal with it. They will need those wages to pay for these cost increases. The Government does not have the will. It needs to rethink that because the people who are watching and who will be getting bills this week, next week and the weeks and months after are looking to the Government. If it does not come up with measures, they will suffer because this issue is not going away anytime soon. It will go on for a significant time.

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